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Forbes Magazine Article on "Science collapse disorder"

Australia presents the most striking dilemma for those isolating their attacks on neonics. On a per crop basis, it is one of the world’s heaviest users of the pesticide—and has among the healthiest bee colonies in the world. Government records indicate there has not been even one adverse experience report from either the public or beekeepers concerning the use of neonics. The other thing they don’t see in Australia—but we do see everywhere else in the world where CCD is claimed—is the Varroa mite, the culprit in the 2005/06 bee death march.

Re: Forbes Magazine Article on "Science collapse disorder"

an email our club received had the following warning/information on the above article. not sure of what they are driving at as I would assume that forbes checks the info in the articles.

Just a quick note - the Forbes site has become a massive aggregator of stories from various people and companies (including my employer). Unless something says "Forbes staff", it's not necessarily from the magazine.

Contributor Jon Entine's actual affiliation - it's clear, but the link from Forbes is weirdly broken - is with these folks:

Re: Forbes Magazine Article on "Science collapse disorder"

Assuming that is true it's pretty compelling evidence.

Only a little bit off subject, but I bet I'm not the only one seeing google adds for Bayer Crop science all over the place on beesource. If the ag chemical industry really wants to build genuine good will and co-operation with bee keepers toward the goal of coexistence of agriculture and healthy bees, they should put some of their awesome powers toward developing some safe cheap and highly effective treatments for varroa and N. Cerane. If mites and disease, and not crop chemicals are really the only cause of CCD they could kill several birds with that stone.

Re: Forbes Magazine Article on "Science collapse disorder"

I don't get it.

This is the first I've ever heard (outside of Bayer) that Canada and Australia aren't having losses....

Canada says: "The best way to describe the honey bee losses this past winter would be “drastic” or “extreme”."
Australia says: "The shortage [of bees] is due to several factors: drought, the lack of overallgovernment funding support for research and, most importantly, the overuse of pesticides."

Re: Forbes Magazine Article on "Science collapse disorder"

Warren Jones explains about his role:

“I am the President of the Crop Pollination Association Inc. This association represents the beekeeper pollinators that service agriculture's pollination requirements across a broad range of crops in all eastern states, Western Australia,Tasmania and NT, which has no members at present.

We provide representation to AHBIC, the peak body established to represent all sectors of beekeeping.”

You’ll see from the document that Warren Jones’ experience and service to agriculture spans 34 years.

In relation to this issue, of particular interest to me was this comment:

Page 4

“There has been a wide use of neonicotinoids to treat a large range of pasture seed and other seed prior to planting which includes most of our horticulture and vegetable production. Consequently our bees are continually in contact with neonicotinoids from the agricultural environment. We are finding it very difficult to maintain our hives at pollination strength, requiring an increase in use of young queens and replacement nucleus hives to maintain our hives”

Re: Forbes Magazine Article on "Science collapse disorder"

Originally Posted by camero7

So how do you explain that Australia has no CCD and lots of neonics?

I don't. I'm starting to conclude that the neonics thing is wildly overblown. There's a treatment free beekeeper in Indiana who keeps his hives in patches of woods surrounded by corn and soy fields, and has very low losses. It's starting to look to me as if it's more the fault of common beekeeping practices than the fault of farmers who use pesticides-- or at least these particular pesticides.

Still, I always like to know who is preaching at me, and who they are working for. I guess most folks are happy to listen to anyone, as long as what the person is saying confirms what they already believe. That's one reason the country is in such a dysfunctional mess at the moment.

Re: Forbes Magazine Article on "Science collapse disorder"

I look at the facts and if they can be verified. not who wrote it...... Mother Jones is no Bastion of accuracy, In fact I wouldn't let my birds read that of the bottom of the cage...not saying your doing it, but typical tactics is what MJ is attack the author, not the facts...... read AUS and CAN reports, and talk to midwest beeks.......